Through the lens: Civil war in Syria

On March 15, 2011, a Syrian civil war began between Ba'ath Party
loyalists and forces seeking to oust President Bashar al-Assad. The
Syrian civil war has killed an estimated 70,000 people and displaced
more than four million. The country, with a prewar population of 22
million, is now carved up into areas controlled by the regime and others
held by rebels. The Syrian civil war began during the Arab Spring
uprisings, which occurred across the Middle East and began in December
of 2010.

On March 15, 2011, a Syrian civil war began between Ba'ath Party
loyalists and forces seeking to oust President Bashar al-Assad. The
Syrian civil war has killed an estimated 70,000 people and displaced ... more

Photo: Narciso Contreras, ASSOCIATED PRESS

On March 15, 2011, a Syrian civil war began between Ba'ath... Photo-5160347.69867 - Beaumont Enterprise

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A Free Syrian Army fighter feeds a cat bread in the old city of Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013. The revolution against Syrian President Bashar Assad that began in March 2011, started with peaceful protests but morphed into a civil war that has killed more than 60,000 people, according to a recent United Nations recent estimate. less

A Free Syrian Army fighter feeds a cat bread in the old city of Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013. The revolution against Syrian President Bashar Assad that began in March 2011, started with peaceful protests ... more

Photo: Andoni Lubaki, AP

A Free Syrian Army fighter feeds a cat bread in the old city of... Photo-5160348.69867 - Beaumont Enterprise

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In this Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012 photo, a Free Syrian Army fighter takes cover during heavy clashes with government forces at a military academy besieged by the rebels north of Aleppo, Syria. Free Syrian Army fighters took control over the military academy after battling government forces for several hours. less

In this Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012 photo, a Free Syrian Army fighter takes cover during heavy clashes with government forces at a military academy besieged by the rebels north of Aleppo, Syria. Free Syrian Army ... more

A Syrian man cries while holding the body of his son, killed by the Syrian Army, near Dar El Shifa hospital in Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012. Regime forces unleashed shelling on rebel-held areas and fired machine guns from aircraft, according to an Associated Press journalist in Aleppo, following three suicide car bombs earlier in the day in a government-controlled area of the city. less

A Syrian man cries while holding the body of his son, killed by the Syrian Army, near Dar El Shifa hospital in Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012. Regime forces unleashed shelling on rebel-held areas and ... more

Photo: Manu Brabo, AP

A Syrian man cries while holding the body of his son, killed by the... Photo-5160351.69867 - Beaumont Enterprise

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Rada Hallabi, 4, who is sick with diabetes, lies on a blanket in a refugee camp on the border with Turkey, near Azaz village, Syria, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012.

Rada Hallabi, 4, who is sick with diabetes, lies on a blanket in a refugee camp on the border with Turkey, near Azaz village, Syria, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012.

Photo: Manu Brabo, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rada Hallabi, 4, who is sick with diabetes, lies on a blanket in a... Photo-5160352.69867 - Beaumont Enterprise

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Syrian rebel fighter, Wisam Al-Saleh, 21, poses for a picture, after returning back from fighting against Syrian army forces in Aleppo, at a rebel headquarters in Marea on the outskirts of Aleppo city, Syria, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012. In their previous lives, they were butchers, barbers, construction workers and university students. Now they are rebels fighting a civil war they hope will end the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. less

Syrian rebel fighter, Wisam Al-Saleh, 21, poses for a picture, after returning back from fighting against Syrian army forces in Aleppo, at a rebel headquarters in Marea on the outskirts of Aleppo city, Syria, ... more

Injured Syrian women arrive at a field hospital after an air strike hit their homes in the town of Azaz on the outskirts of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012.

Injured Syrian women arrive at a field hospital after an air strike hit their homes in the town of Azaz on the outskirts of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012.

Photo: Khalil Hamra, AP

Injured Syrian women arrive at a field hospital after an air strike... Photo-5160354.69867 - Beaumont Enterprise

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In this Wednesday, Aug. 15, 3023 photo, a Syrian refugee mother feeds her child at the Syrian side of Bab Al-Salam crossing border as they wait to cross to one of the refugee camps in Turkey, in the town of Azaz on the outskirts of Aleppo, Syria. Thousands of Syrians who have been displaced by the country's civil are struggling to find safe shelter while shelling and airstrikes by government forces continue. less

In this Wednesday, Aug. 15, 3023 photo, a Syrian refugee mother feeds her child at the Syrian side of Bab Al-Salam crossing border as they wait to cross to one of the refugee camps in Turkey, in the town of ... more

A Free Syrian Army soldier holds a weapon as he takes part in a training session on the outskirts of Idlib, Syria, Thursday, June 7, 2012.

A Free Syrian Army soldier holds a weapon as he takes part in a training session on the outskirts of Idlib, Syria, Thursday, June 7, 2012.

Photo: Anonymous, AP

A Free Syrian Army soldier holds a weapon as he takes part in a... Photo-5160356.69867 - Beaumont Enterprise

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A Syrian girl wears revolutionary Syrian flag colors on her face during a protest in solidarity with victims of the Houla massacre in front of the Syrian embassy in Amman, Jordan, Thursday, May 31, 2012. Syria on Thursday blamed up to 800 rebel fighters for the massacre in central Syria last week that killed more than 100 people, nearly half of them children, in its most comprehensive explanation to date of the bloodshed. less

A Syrian girl wears revolutionary Syrian flag colors on her face during a protest in solidarity with victims of the Houla massacre in front of the Syrian embassy in Amman, Jordan, Thursday, May 31, 2012. Syria ... more

A Free Syrian Army fighter, right, stands near the body of a fallen comrade in a neighborhood of Damascus, Syria, after a raid by Syrian troops killed several rebels and civilians Thursday, April 5, 2012. Syrian troops launched a fierce assault Thursday, days ahead of a deadline for a U.N.-brokered cease-fire, with activists describing it as one of the most violent attacks around the capital since the year-old uprising began. less

A Free Syrian Army fighter, right, stands near the body of a fallen comrade in a neighborhood of Damascus, Syria, after a raid by Syrian troops killed several rebels and civilians Thursday, April 5, 2012. ... more

Photo: Anonymous, ASSOCIATED PRESS

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A man chants anti-government slogans during a demonstration in Idlib, north Syria, Friday, March 9, 2012.

A man chants anti-government slogans during a demonstration in Idlib, north Syria, Friday, March 9, 2012.

6-months old Maher, laughs as the child is placed to pose with a machine gun placed by supporters of the Free Syrian Army, inside a house near Idlib, Syria, Thursday, Feb. 23., 2012.

6-months old Maher, laughs as the child is placed to pose with a machine gun placed by supporters of the Free Syrian Army, inside a house near Idlib, Syria, Thursday, Feb. 23., 2012.

Photo: Rodrigo Abd, ASSOCIATED PRESS

6-months old Maher, laughs as the child is placed to pose with a... Photo-5160362.69867 - Beaumont Enterprise

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A Free Syrian Army fighter displays a damaged ordinance in Aleppo, Syria, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013. Two explosions struck the main university in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on Tuesday, causing an unknown number of casualties, state media and anti-government activists said. less

A Free Syrian Army fighter displays a damaged ordinance in Aleppo, Syria, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013. Two explosions struck the main university in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on Tuesday, causing an unknown ... more

Syrians, who fled their homes due to fighting between the Syrian army and the rebels, shout slogans as they march toward the Turkish side of the border, during a protest asking the Turkish government to let them enter to their refugee camps, at the Bab Al-Salameh border crossing, near the Syrian town of Azaz, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012 less

Syrians, who fled their homes due to fighting between the Syrian army and the rebels, shout slogans as they march toward the Turkish side of the border, during a protest asking the Turkish government to let ... more

Photo: Muhammed Muheisen, AP

Syrians, who fled their homes due to fighting between the Syrian... Photo-5160365.69867 - Beaumont Enterprise

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This Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012 photo, shows a damaged portrait of former Syrian President Hafez Assad at the entrance of a military academy besieged by rebels during heavy clashes with government forces north of Aleppo, Syria. less

This Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012 photo, shows a damaged portrait of former Syrian President Hafez Assad at the entrance of a military academy besieged by rebels during heavy clashes with government forces north of ... more

Syrian children play in the street in the Bustan Al Qsar district in Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012.

Syrian children play in the street in the Bustan Al Qsar district in Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012.

Photo: Manu Brabo, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Syrian children play in the street in the Bustan Al Qsar district... Photo-5160367.69867 - Beaumont Enterprise

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Relatives and mourners of Abdullah Alrayzar, 23, left, and Mohammed Abdul Samee, 35, pray during a funeral for four men, who were killed in a government airstrike in Marea, on the outskirts of Aleppo, Syria, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012. less

Relatives and mourners of Abdullah Alrayzar, 23, left, and Mohammed Abdul Samee, 35, pray during a funeral for four men, who were killed in a government airstrike in Marea, on the outskirts of Aleppo, Syria, ... more

In this Friday, Sept 7, 2012 photo, Free Syrian Army fighters run after attacking a Syrian Army tank during fighting in the Izaa district in Aleppo, Syria. On Friday, U.S. Senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham, who have toured the volatile Middle East in recent days, urged Washington to help arm Syria's rebels with weapons and create a safe zone inside the country for a transition government. less

In this Friday, Sept 7, 2012 photo, Free Syrian Army fighters run after attacking a Syrian Army tank during fighting in the Izaa district in Aleppo, Syria. On Friday, U.S. Senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman ... more